Conduit closure



P 1943- c. P. GRIFFITH ET AL 2,329,176

CONDUIT CLOSURE Filed June 10, 1941 Fay 4 2o 25 l3 47 25 I 3/ y 2 av 7 /z7 27- -99- 2 35 CZemenZRGrafmh Harvey E. Marvel F I 3 INVENTOR.

:9 1 BY /%W ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 14, 1943 CONDUIT CLOSURE Clement P. Griflith and Harvey E. Marvel, Fort Wayne,

Ind, assignors to S. F. Bowser 8; Company, Incorporated, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 10, 1941', Serial No. 397,454

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a closure mechanism which is adapted to be inserted in and locked in place in a pipe. More particularly, the invention is adapted for use as a closure for fill pipes of gasoline or other storage tanks to prevent the withdrawal of liquid from the tank except by a person who is provided with a key to the lock of the closure.

It is not desirable to seal the pipe against the passage of relatively small amounts of free liquid into the tank because in the ordinary automobile service stations, the sealers of weights and measures inspectors regularly check the service station pumps by drawing gasoline from them, usually in five-gallon quantities. Since this liquid is not purchased, it is necessary to return it to the tank and since neither the service station attendant nor the inspector may have a key to-the lock, it is desirable that the closure be so constructed as to permit the return to the tank of small quantities of the liquid. -Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a closure which prevents the withdrawal of any substantial amount of fluid through the conduit in a short time but which permits the dumping of small quantities of fluid into the pipe.

Another problem to be overcome is the tendency for pawls of the type disclosed herein to jam in the pipe with more force than can be applied to loosen them by turning a key. Accordingly, applicants structure is arranged to permit the application of considerable force to release Lhe pawls without applying undue torque to the It is therefore an object of the invention to produce a pipe closure which will permit the passage of free liquid at a relatively slow rate of flow through the pipe.

It is another object of the invention to provide closure locking means which are adapted to firmly engage the interior of pipes of a given size which vary in diameter within commercial limits.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for applying considerableforce to release the locking pawls.

Yet another object of the invention is to relieve the key of any substantial torque in operating the closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide.

vent the application of a twist or torsion to the closure by means of the travel limiting means.

It is still another object of the invention to prevent the withdrawal of the closure except by a person in possession of the key.

It is another object of the invention to provide a closure which can be readily locked in a pipe by simply pushing it down into the pipe.

These and other objects will be apparent from a study of the following specification and the drawing which forms a part thereof and in which:

Figure l is an elevation with parts broken away, showing the closure locked in place in a pipe.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 41s a bottom view of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the locking pawls withdrawn and locked preparatory to the withdrawal of the device from the pipe.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the, numeral l indicates a conduit such as the fill pipe of a gasoline storage tank similar to those commonly installed at filling stations. The locking mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 3 comprises a body member 5 which is preferably cast of bronze and is provided with a central bore 1 which is reduced in diameter at the lower end as shown at 9. The body member is provided near its upper end with a radially extending flange H and at its lower-end with two pairs of diametrically opposed, substantially axially extending ears 13.

An axial slot I5 is cut in the upper portion of the member 5 to a point below the flange II and on the inside of the flange so that the latter is not severed by the slot. A second slot I1 is disposed circumferentially of the lower end of the body. This slot is open at one end to form a gate l9 which is defined partly by the wall 21 of the body and the end surface 23 of the transverse abutment 25 which extends laterally from oneoftheearsI3. Pivotally mountedon pins 21 supported in the pairs of ears l3, are pawls 29, Twopawls are,

release lever 33 which is rounded on its upper edge for rolling contact with the actuator plate to be described, and with a depending arm 35 21 as the lock enters a pipe.

which is perforated at 37 to receive the end of a tension spring 3|. The sets of ears l3, and consequently the pawls, are preferably disposed on a diameter of the conduit which they are intended to engage. I

The pawls on each pin are preferably formed by a punch and die, and the pawls are blanked in opposite directions so that the sharp comers which usually result from such an operation extend toward the outer side of each pawl when assembled on the pin 21. Thi makes the pawls more effective for biting into the inner wall of the pipe. The pawls are preferably hardened and are relatively movable on the pins so that each pawl may adjust itself to that portion of the pipe surface with which it comes into contact.

The teeth of thepawls are disposed on a radius which is centered at a point located above or on the trailing side of the center of the pin Th center of this radius is so selected that the pawls will remain in effective contact with the interior wall of the pipe even though the pipe may vary from as much as onethirty-second of an inch below the nominal inside diameter to as much as one-sixteenth of an inch over such diameter.

This relative arrangement of the centers also serves to maintain the angle formed at the intersection of a line joining the pivotal center with the point of the tooth in contact with the conduit and the perpendicular to the pipe wall passing through the pivotal center and lying in the plane of the pawl, within twelve to fifteen degrees.' Angles of this size have been found to result in a good gripping action of the pawls on the pipe.

In a pipe which is designated as a.two-inch" pipe, the nominal inside diameter should be, according to accepted handbook standards, 2.067 inches. However, commercial pipe varies considerably from this dimension. In the practice of the invention it has been found necessary to allow for diameters of 2.067 inches plus .0625 or minus .03125 as noted above. The same allowance has been found to be adequate on large sizes of pipe.

Under such conditions, and referring to a vertical pipe, when a pawl designed for a two-inch pipe is rotated so that the center of radius of the teeth is located on the vertical center line of the pivotal center of the pawl, the center of radius will be disposed about 564 of an inch above the pivotal center. A radius of of an ion to the tips of the teeth has been found to be adequate and the radius through the tip of the lowermost tooth is disposed /2 degree above the horizontal center line through the center of radius. The second, third and fourth teeth are spaced above this horizontal center line 14, 227 and 41 degrees respectively.

The main cylinder ll of the lock is slidably mounted in the large diametered portion of the bore 1. A pin 43 fixed in the cylinder operates in. the slot l5 and prevents the cylinder from turning in the bore. This pin is short enough so that it will not contact the flange II when the lock cylinder is depressed as described below.

The lock also comprises a plug 45 which is rotatable by the key relative to the main cylinder 4|. This plug fits the small bore 9 and rotates therein. A hardened plate 41 is fixed to the lower surface of the plug and is adapted to contact the levers 33 of the pawls to release them. A screw 48, having a hard, cylindrical head, is set in the side of the plug and the head of the screw is adapted to ride inthe slot 11, to pass out the gate l9 and to engage the surface 20 which is the lower surface of the member 5.

The lock cylinder 4| is .provided with a flange 5| at its upper end and a spring seat 53 is supported by the flange. A spring 55 is held between the seat 53 and the flange ll described above.

The bores I and 9 are preferably eccentric to the flange ll so that a V-shaped slot 51 may be cut in the extending portion of the flange to permit a gauge stick 5!! to be passed into the tank without removing the look from the pipe. This slot also permits the passage of a small stream of liquid through the pipe.

A tube or sleeve 6| which is somewhat smaller in external diameter than the internal diameter of the pipe, is provided with a flange or rim 63 which is of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the pipe so that the tube cannot pass entirely into the pipe. The lower end of the tube is spun over the flange II at 65 and is indented above the flange as at 61 so that the tube is fastened to the flange in a manner to prevent substantial longitudinal movement of the tube with respect to the body member 5, but at the same time to allow rotation of the one element relative to the other.

The key 69 which operates the lock is carried by a holder H which is long enough to extend beyond the upper end of the pipe a distance sufllcient to permit easy manipulation. The key 69 is provided with an abutment I3 which is adapted to bear against the upper surface of the lock cylinder so that any thrust applied on the holder will be transmitted through the key 69 and the abutment 13 to the lock cylinder.

The lock is so formed as to retain the key in any but the locked position of the lock. Two of the forward portions of the key are provided with lateral extensions such as 15 which enter the top plate of the lock through extension notche TI. The key thus is held in the lock except in the position in which it is inserted.

The lock is lifted from the pipe by means of the key acting through the plate of the lock cylinder.

Operation To remove the closure from the pipe it is first necessary to insert the key and rotate it in a clockwise direction (Figure 3). This serves to rotate the plug in the same direction to bring the screw '49 into position over the gate l9. Further rotation of the key and plug is prevented by contact between the screw and surface 2|.

A downward thrust upon the key holder 1 l, key 69 and abutment 13 forces the cylinder 4| and plug of the lock downwardly in the body 5 against the action of the spring and during this operation the plate 41 contacts the levers 33 of the pawls and rotates them to withdraw the teeth 3| from contact with the interior of the pipe. The downward movement of the cylinder 4| is limited by contact of the spring seatilwith the upper end of the body 5. This is accomplished in opposition to the action of the spring 39.

When the plug reaches its lowermost position. further rotation of the key in the same direction will bring the screw 49 under the end 20 of the body member 5 so that the pawls will be held in the retracted position. This is the position shown in Figure 5.

By utilizing a movement which is parallel to the axis of the pipe or conduit, it is obvious that should the pawls stick and refuse to release from the conduit, considerable pressure or even a blow projections on the top way a great deal more Iorce'can be applied to release the pawls than could be applied torsionally by means of a key.

since the'key is retained in the lock, the entire mechanism may be withdrawn as a unit from the pipe to permit the insertion of a filling nozzle or other instrument.

When it is desired to replace the locking mechanism, the parts are moved from the Figure to the Figure 1 position and the key is withdrawn. The mechanism may then be slipped down into the pipe without further manipulation since the pawls will yield, stressing the spring 39. The lowermost position of the closure is, of course, determined by contact of the dance 63 with the upper end oi! the pipe I.

When the lock is in place in the pipe, it is impossible to apply a torque to the closure through the sleeve 6i sincethisis rotatably connected to the closure mechanism. Consequently, there is no chance that the closure may be removed by walking thelatch pawls up the internal surface of the pipe.

The spring 39 holds the pawl teeth in firm engagement with the interior of the pipe and any attempt to withdraw the mechanism upwardly results in the teeth being forced to bite more firmly into the pipe because the point of contact of the tooth with the pipe is above the center of rotation of the pawl and lifting the mechanism tends to bring the two points into horizontal alignment, thus causing the tooth to be forced outwardly.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement or parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicants do not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, they desire protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim to be new and desire to protect v by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a conduit closure, a body member adapted for insertion in a conduit, pawls mounted for movement into and out of conduit engaging position and means mounted for movement axially of said conduit out of and into contact with said pawls, to deliver a blow thereto as it is moved into contact with said pawls for withdrawing said pawls from conduit engaging position.

2. In a conduit closure, the combination of a closure element adapted to enter a conduit, releasable means mounted on said element and adapted to engage the interior of said conduit to prevent withdrawal of the element from said conduit, stop means connected with said element for limiting the distance of entry of said element in said conduit, a connection between said stop means and said element constructed and arranged to permit relative rotation between said stop means and said element at all times.

, 3. In a conduit closure, a body member adapted to substantially close a conduit, holding means including pawls movably mounted on said member and adapted to engage a conduit to prevent withdrawal of the body member, a pawl actuator mounted for movement in said member and axially of the conduit, operating means on said pawls arranged in the path of said actuator, yieldable means for normally holding said actuator out of contact with said operating means, whereby axial movement of the actuator into contact with said including pawls movably mounted on said member and adapted to engage a conduit to prevent withdrawal of the body member, a pawl actuator mounted tor movement in said member and'axially or the conduit, operating means on said pawls arranged in the path of said actuator whereby movement of the latter will withdraw said pawls from engagement with said conduit, and locking means for said actuator mounted thereon and for movement therewith.

' 5. In a conduit closure, a body member adapted to substantially close a conduit, holding means including pawls movably mounted on said member and adapted to engage a conduit to prevent withdrawal of the body member, a pawl actuator mounted for movement in said member and axially of the conduit, operating means on said pawls arranged in the path of said actuator whereby movement of the latter will withdraw said pawls from engagement with said conduit, yieldable means for withdrawing said actuator from contact with said operating means, and means comprising a lock, mounted on and movable with said actuator, for locking said actuator in said withdrawn position.

6. In a conduit closure, a body member adapted to substantially close a conduit, holding means including pawls movably mounted on said member and adapted to engage a conduit to prevent withdrawal of the body member, a pawl actuator mounted for movement in said member and axially of the conduit, operating means on said pawls arranged in the path of said actuator whereby movement of the latter from initial position will withdraw said pawls from engagement with said conduit, yieldable means for returning said actu ator to said initial position, and means comprising a lock, mounted on and movable with said actuator and cooperating. abutments on said body member, for locking said actuator in the initial position and for releasably holding it in the actuated position.

'7. In a conduit closure, abody member, comprising a radial flange, holding means comprising pawls movably mounted on said member and adapted to move into and out of engagement with a conduit, means for withdrawing said pawls from engagement, comprising an axially movable actuator, stop means connected with said flange and adapted to engage said conduit to limit movement of said body member with said actuator in one direction, said connection being adapted to permit relative rotative movement of said stop means and said member.

8. In a conduit closure, a body member, holding means comprising pawls mounted on said body member for movement into and out of engagement with a conduit, said pawls comprising actuating arms, an actuator mounted for movement axially of said body member between initial position, in which it is withdrawn from contact with said arms, and actuated position, whereby it operates said .pawl arms to move said, pawls from engagement with the conduit, said actuator comprising a locking element, abutments formed on said body member and each arranged to holdsaid element in one of its positions, said actuator in moving to actuated position being adapted to deliver a blowto said pawl arms. 1

9. In a conduit closure, a body member, holding means comprising pawls mounted on said body member for movement into and out of engagement with a conduit, said pawls comprising actuating arms, an actuator mounted for movement axially of said body member between two positions and adapted to operate said pawl arms to move said-pawls from engagement with the conduit, said actuator comprising a locking element, abutments formed on said body member and each arranged to hold said element in one of its positions, and additional abutments for guiding said element from one of its positions to they other. a

10. In a conduit closure,a body member, holding means comprising pawls mounted on said body member for movement into and out of engage-.

ment with a conduit, an actuator for said pawls mounted for axial movement in said body member to and from pawl releasing position and comprising a key controlled locking element which is rotatable with respect to said body member, and locking abutments formed on said body member cooperating with said element to retain said actuator in either of its axial positions.

11. In a conduit closure, a body member, holding means comprising pawls mounted on said body member for movement into and out or engagement with a conduit, an actuator mounted for axial movement in said body member between initial and pawl actuating positions and comprising a key controlled lock mounted on said actuator and adapted to cause axial movement thereof by transmitting thrust thereto from a key inserted in the lock.

12. In a conduit closure adapted-for use with a vertical pipe, a body member adapted to partially obstruct the passage through said conduit,

releasable holding means mounted on said body member and adapted to engage the interior of said conduit to. prevent withdrawal of said member therefrom, stop means adapted to engage the open end of said conduit, and connector means of substantial length attached to said stop means and said body member to position said body member a predetermined distance from the open end of said conduit to form a pouring chamber for the reception of liquid.

- CLEMENT P. GRIFFITH.

\ HARVEY E. MARVEL. 

